Sherwood Park Crusaders defenceman Ben McLeod has been awarded the inaugural Unified Valve Group Scholarship. The scholarship was created to recognize one current or former AJHL athlete who best demonstrates the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey with a $1,000 scholarship towards their post-secondary education.

Ben McLeod (Edmonton, AB) recently completed a four-year career with the Sherwood Park Crusaders and plans to attend the University of Alberta in Fall 2018. The 20 year-old was a vital member of the Crusaders leadership team and a role model for players entering the program each season.

“Ben provides so many characteristics that a team needs to be successful,” stated Crusaders Head Coach Adam Manah. “He brings exceptional leadership, character, discipline, and is an outstanding person and teammate. As a coach, he simply brings our hockey team to a whole other level, whether that be in practices or games.”

“The life lessons I have learned in hockey and especially Junior hockey have been more than abundant,” said Ben McLeod. “Some of the most notable personal traits that have directly benefitted as a result of my hockey experiences are teamwork, commitment, dedication, discipline, and professionalism. Out of all these traits, the one that has benefited me the most has been the ability to work efficiently in teams and groups.”

In conjunction with Unified Valve Group, the AJHL developed the Unified Valve Group Power Play Leaderboard to track power play goals throughout the 2017-2018 regular season. The team with the most power play goals will have $1,000 donated to their local Red Cross branch on behalf of Unified Valve Group and the AJHL. The Drumheller Dragons and Spruce Grove Saints will share the honour this season, with both AJHL communities receiving a $500 donation to their Red Cross Branch.